Via NOAA: “Early in the morning on October 25, 2012, the Suomi NPP satellite passed over Hurricane Sandy after it made landfall over Cuba and Jamaica, capturing this highly detailed infrared imagery, showing areas of deep convection around the central eye.”

Brad Panovich, broadcast meteorologist, Charlotte: “It’s very rare to see a strong tropical system merge with such a strong winter like trough of low pressure. Throw in a full moon and the potential is there for a significant storm. This system is 1 part Hurricane, 1 part Nor’easter and 1 part Blizzard potentially. Impacts of all 3 types of storms are possible depending on location.

“For those on the coast don’t let the Category of the storm or whether it’s “just” a Nor’easter dictate your response. Your personal memories of previous storms are no use in this unique situation.”

Dave Tolleris, Wxrisk.com: “In [the mid-Atlantic] winds could reach up to 75 miles per hour in gusts during the height of the storm which will be fairly prolonged.”

5) Inland snow potential

NOAA’s Hydrometeorological Prediction Center: “HEAVY SNOWS POSSIBLE ON THE SOUTHWEST EDGE WHERE THE ONTINENTAL POLAR AIR RUSHES ACROSS THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY AND CENTRAL APPALACHIANS AND ADJACENT LOWLANDS TO THE EAST”

Dave Tolleris, WxRisk.com: “The snowstorm potential here remains high especially in the elevation above 800 or 1000 feet. It is still too early to know which portion of the interior Middle Atlantic mountain areas are going to see the heavy snow but somebody is gonna get really crushed with an early season snowfall.”

Background on Perfect Storm, Will Komaromi, researcher University of Miami: “Something similar [to Sandy] happened in late October through early November 1991. It was known as “the Perfect Storm”, resulting in 13 fatalities and caused > $200 million in damages to the northeastern U.S. and fishing and shipping interests. In the Perfect Storm, northward-moving Hurricane Grace phased with a mid-latitude trough, similar to the one over the Central U.S. today. . . .

“The Perfect Storm deepened to 972 mb...”

Why Sandy could be more powerful, Will Komaromi: “Most of the models now indicate even stronger jet dynamics will occur next week than occurred during for the Perfect Storm, and that today’s storm could potentially deepen to well below 960 mb or even below 950 mb. The fact that the Gulf Stream is anomalously warm for this time of year means that Sandy will weaken less as a tropical system...”

National Weather Service, Philadelphia: “Leaves! There a lot of leaves on the ground. Leaves are excellent material to clog/block storm drains, worsening local/neighborhood flooding. Get leaves and any other obstructing materials away from storm drains before this storm arrives.”